Robert CRUMB. Jazz Cards





Robert Dennis Crumb (born August 30, 1943), often credited simply as R. Crumb, is an American artist and illustrator recognized for the distinctive style of his drawings and his critical, satirical, subversive view of the American mainstream. He currently lives in France.
Crumb was a founder of the underground comix movement and is regarded as its most prominent figure. Though one of the most celebrated of comic book artists, Crumb's entire career has unfolded outside the mainstream comic book publishing industry. One of his most recognized works is the Keep on Truckin' drawing, which became a widely distributed fixture of pop culture in the 1970s. Others are the characters Devil Girl, Fritz the Cat, and Mr. Natural.


Crumb is an avid collector of 78 rpm phonograph records; he has over 5000 records as of 2004. A selection of 24 songs from his collection called Gay Life in Dikanka: R. Crumb's Old-Time Favorites was issued on CD in 2000 by the Swedish record company BakhÄll, with a cover painting by Crumb. In 2003, the collection was the source for Hot Women: Women Singers From The Torrid Regions Of The World, his compilation of world music from Mexico, Cuba, Turkey, Burma, and Tahiti. All but two of the 24 tracks were recorded between 1927 and 1934. Crumb also hosted a BBC radio series featuring his favorite records. In the 1970s he produced three albums (and a limited edition 12" 78 rpm record) with his own band R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders, playing old blues, white jazz and novelty tunes. Zwigoff was also in the band. The band achieved some success in the '70s and early '80s, even turning down the chance to perform on Saturday Night Live. In the '90s, they reunited to perform on A Prairie Home Companion. He now plays banjo and mandolin (lefthanded) with the French band Les Primitifs du Futur. He also co-hosted with fellow collector Jerry Zolten a one-hour public radio program special, Chimpin' the Blues, featuring rare 78s from the dawn of the blues. Crumb has frequently drawn comics about his musical interests.

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